Jeff West wrestler has solid chance at state

Thursday

After taking fifth at the Class 4A state wrestling meet as a freshman, Jefferson West’s Cass Steele appeared to be on the verge of becoming one of the most successful wrestlers in Tiger history.

But a series of tough breaks — in some cases literally — derailed that possibility. Steele has still had a good career at West, one he hopes to end on a high note this weekend in Salina.

Steele takes a 24-2 record to state at 145 pounds looking for the title that has eluded him during an injury-plagued career.

“There’s nobody that I don’t think I can’t beat,” Steele said. “I’ll just have to wrestle my best.”

To be at his best, Steele likely will need to be close to 100 percent healthy and that’s something that’s eluded him almost as much as a title during his time at West. The senior has battled one ailment after another that’s either hampered him during a season or wiped it out all together.

En route to his fifth-place showing at 103 pounds as a freshman, Steele injured his foot. That injury required surgery before his sophomore year, and though Steele still qualified for state, he wasn’t at full strength and wound up going 1-2 at 119 pounds.

Last year, Steele’s season ended almost as soon as it began. At the first meet of the season, he broke the humerus bone in his left arm, at the same time dislocating the left shoulder. That not only ended his junior season, but continues to linger.

“I was just glad that I had a senior year left and that I still had something to look forward to,” Steele said of the broken arm. “It was tough to sit and watch. It set me back a little bit. My arm still hurts me a little, but not near as bad.”

The arm was removed from a cast last March, but periodically acts up. It became sore enough earlier this year that he sat out almost the entire pre-Christmas schedule for the Tigers. It also affected Steele once he got back on the mat, though his record hardly shows it.

He’s only lost twice this season. One came to Class 3-2-1A 152-pound No. 1 Tyler McMichael of Central-Burden when Steele wrestled up a weight at the Herington Invitational. The other came last weekend at the Holton 4A regional when he dropped an 8-7 decision to Bonner Springs’ Mark Hobson.

His path at state gets tough in the second round where Steele, who opens with Spring Hill’s Aaron Barnes (29-5), likely would meet No. 1 Levi Eck of Andale (35-5). But Tiger coach Shawn Dolezilek isn’t counting his senior out.

“He’s always been a pretty level-headed, stoic kid,” Dolezilek said. “Everything he does, he just kind of takes it in stride. He’s just a tough, tough, tough kid. He’s certainly stepped up his outside-of-practice work this year. He’s in great condition and we’ll see if he can put together a good tournament.”

If making up for a lost junior season isn’t enough motivation for Steele, he’ll have even more when he steps on the mat. Missing from West’s state contingent is classmate and good friend Ethan Mumaw.

The defending state champion at 171 pounds, Mumaw suffered a torn ACL before football season. He came back to wrestle sparingly, but had another surgery on his knee late in the season and missed regionals, costing him a chance to defend his title.

So Steele carries the flag for both.

“He’s a great friend and was who I worked out with freshman and sophomore year,” Steele said. “Last year, I was hurt and now this year he’s hurt. We just try to vocally help each other out. He just told me, ‘Don’t ever stop because there’s always a chance you can win.’ ”

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